Mercury and Saturn will shine together in the night sky Nov. 28 just after sunset. About half an hour after sunset tonight (Nov. 28), Mercury will shine close to Saturn in the early-evening sky for the first of three close approaches between the two planets. Mercury and Saturn will shine about 3 degrees apart from […]
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Intense Illumination Seen in Early Universe Galaxy Collision
An artist’s impression of two starbursting galaxies beginning to merge in the early universe. Imagine what the iconic pillars of the Eagle Nebula would look like if a powerful force caused the stellar nursery to create stars at a thousand times its current rate. New observations confirm that a bright point of light in the […]
US Army 'Space Week' to Shine Light on Why Soldiers Care About Satellites
Most of the Army’s advanced weapons, including missile defenses, depend on space systems. WASHINGTON — It may come as a shock to many that space is a big deal for the U.S. Army . Though most of its work is done on the ground, more than 70 percent of the Army’s major weapons and equipment need […]
Scorching-Hot Alien Planet May Have Earth-Like Atmosphere
The searing-hot planet 55 Cancri e likely has a thick atmosphere with a similar composition to that of Earth, a new study suggests. A planet circling a star in the constellation Cancer might have an atmosphere similar to Earth’s, but with dayside temperatures hot enough to melt titanium, a new study suggests. The planet is […]
Stellar Storms May Light Up Signs of Life on Alien Planets
An artist’s view of a star lighting up the atmosphere of its planet. When starlight strikes the atmosphere, molecules that could indicate the presence of a habitable environment emit radiation that can be detectable by Earth-based telescopes. Stellar storms, or eruptions of material that are regularly spewed into space by stars, could help scientists search […]
'Oumuamua: The Solar System's 1st Interstellar Visitor Explained in Photos
Meet ‘Oumuamua: 1I/2017 U1, the first known interstellar object observed within our solar system. Its name means “a messenger from afar arriving first” in Hawaiian. ‘Oumuamua was first detected on Oct. 19, 2017, by astronomers using the Pan-STARRS1 telescope in Hawaii. Here: an artist’s impression of the asteroid ‘Oumuamua.Up First: A slender space rock To […]
Stellar Deals on Telescopes and Binoculars
One of our favorite telescope and binocular manufacturers is going all out this holiday season with fat discounts on some of the best skywatching gear available. We’ve rounded up some of the best deals on Celestron products for sale on Amazon right now. If you’re looking to buy a new telescope but don’t know where […]
Watch the First 17 Minutes of 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' in Space Early!
In advance of its season 5 premiere on Friday, the first 17 minutes of ABC’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s” has been shared online. Take a look: [embedded content] In addition to a tongue in cheek reference to S.W.O.R.D., the extended preview also reveals the identity of the aliens first seen in the trailer as the Vrellnexians. Related: ‘S.H.I.E.L.D’ […]
Curious Kids: Do Astronauts Get Space Sick on the Way to the International Space Station?
Flight Engineer Peggy Whitson suits up ahead of a spacewalk. Vomiting inside a spacesuit during a spacewalk could be fatal for astronauts. This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com’s Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights . This is an article from Curious Kids , a series for children. The Conversation […]
DARPA Aims to 'Disrupt' National Security Space Business
An early sketch of DARPA’s reusable space plane design, the XS-1. WASHINGTON — The military space business is stuck in its old ways and missing a “golden opportunity” to capture the energy of a rejuvenated commercial industry, said a former White House space and aviation technology adviser who is now a top official at the […]
Pandora the Perturber: Cassini's Last View of a Pesky Saturn Moon
Before Cassini’s journey through the Saturnian system, popular opinion held that Pandora and Prometheus, two of Saturn’s moons, teamed up, creating the F ring’s unique shape and orbit. But, data from Cassini proves otherwise. NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturn came to an end on Sept. 15, 2017 when the spacecraft dove into Saturn’s atmosphere. As […]
With 'Mission 1' Complete, Planet Turns Focus to Data Analysis
A pair of Dove cubesats being deployed from the International Space Station. With the company’s constellation now able to image the Earth’s entire landmass once a day, Planet is shifting its attention to developing machine learning tools to analyze images and extract insights from them. Updated Nov. 19 to clarify Planet’s work with data analysis […]
On-Orbit Satellite Servicing: The Next Big Thing in Space?
WASHINGTON — A team of researchers and Pentagon contractors was recently selected to organize a space industry consortium that will consider new “rules of the road” for commercial on-orbit activities like repairing and refueling satellites. The effort, led by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency , is being touted as a major step in the transition of […]